Thanks to you and thousands of others who signed my online petition to stop Canadian trash, we have finally been able to reach an agreement to stop the shipments of trash from Toronto and other Ontario municipalities into Michigan .

In an unprecedented effort, Senator Levin joined me in reaching an agreement with the government of Ontario to end the dumping of Ontario 's municipal trash in Michigan once and for all. The agreement will phase-out the importation of Ontario 's municipal solid waste over the next four years. There will be an immediate 20% reduction of Ontario 's municipal solid waste within the first year, a 40% reduction within two years and a complete stop to all of Ontario 's municipal solid waste within four years.

Our fight to stop Canadian trash

As you know, I have been leading the fight to stop the trash since early in 2003. I have repeatedly demanded that the Bush Administration use its authority to stop the trash by enforcing our existing treaty with Canada . Not only has the Bush Administration refused to enforce the treaty, but they have also opposed legislative efforts to stop or restrict the flow of waste across our borders.

In order to address our homeland security, I secured inspection equipment at our border and passed legislation in the Senate, as part of the Homeland Security Appropriations bill, to impose inspection fees on Canadian haulers. Four times, the Senate has passed the Levin amendment to halt the Canadian trash shipments if the Department of Homeland Security cannot demonstrate that they are screened as effectively as other cargo, but so far the House of Representatives has opposed the amendment every time.

What is the Stabenow-Levin agreement?

Working with Senator Levin, I negotiated this agreement with Ontario 's Minister of the Environment, Laurel Broten, to phase out Ontario 's municipal solid waste shipments to Michigan over the next four years. The agreement also has the full commitment of the City of Toronto and the other key Ontario municipalities that are shipping trash to Michigan .

Under the terms of this agreement, there will be an immediate 20% reduction of Canadian municipal solid waste within the first year, a 40% reduction within two years and a complete stop to all Canadian municipal solid waste within four years. In addition, Ontario 's municipalities will not renew their existing contracts to ship trash to Michigan .

If the strict terms of this agreement are met, Senator Levin and I have agreed to not pursue our amendments which passed the Senate as part of the 2007 Homeland Security Appropriations bill.

How many Canadian trash trucks are coming into Michigan every day?

Nearly 350 truckloads of trash enter Michigan every day from Ontario . This Canadian trash made up 19% of all the trash disposed in Michigan landfills last year. The trash trucks will be reduced to approximately 287 trucks in year one, 209 in year two, and all trucks carrying municipal waste will be stopped by the end of year four.

How will Ontario meet this goal?

The province of Ontario , in conjunction with their municipalities, will be implementing a plan to manage their own waste including: siting more landfills, expanding their recycling programs, and opening energy-from-waste facilities that use new technologies to turn waste into fuel.

Without this agreement, how much trash would be imported into Michigan ?

Without this agreement, over 2.78 million metric tons more trash would come into Michigan between now and 2010, and even more after that date. In addition, Ontario 's municipalities could renew their contracts with Michigan 's landfills and continue sending their trash to Michigan beyond 2010.

What will happen if the Canadians cannot meet the terms of the agreement?

If the terms of the agreement are not met, Senators Levin and I will renew our legislative efforts to stop the trash coming into Michigan .

Thank you so much for being part of this historic victory for Michigan . Your voice and those of thousands of other Michigan citizens have made a real difference. As always, whenever I can be of assistance to you or your family, please feel free to contact my office.

Canadian trash = NAFTA, which classifies trash as an "economic commodity" and therefore requires "free trade in it among the partners. Just like all of the auto jobs going to Mexico and in some cases Ontario, where they escape healthcare costs.

Who signed NAFTA? Ummmmm... Bill Clinton.

Who was NAFTA's head cheerleader? Algore.

Despite the partisanship, it's damn time someone did something (even as weak as a fou-year phaseout) about it. To get a real taste for how much trash really comes over, go down Will Carleton Road some weekday AM about 0630. Trucks idling as far a you can see, and oh, what an aroma...

With all this free trade nafta cafta, and the new freeway making its way from mexico to canada dividing the United States. WE will be in a world of trouble nothing will be the same. Socalism here it comes... get ready

Canadian trash = NAFTA, which classifies trash as an "economic commodity" and therefore requires "free trade in it among the partners. Just like all of the auto jobs going to Mexico and in some cases Ontario, where they escape healthcare costs.

Who signed NAFTA? Ummmmm... Bill Clinton. BS

Who was NAFTA's head cheerleader? Algore.

Despite the partisanship, it's damn time someone did something (even as weak as a fou-year phaseout) about it. To get a real taste for how much trash really comes over, go down Will Carleton Road some weekday AM about 0630. Trucks idling as far a you can see, and oh, what an aroma...

Clinton did sign portions of agreements and provisions and amendments of NAFTA. But here is the REAL timeline, and the REAL people behind NAFTA. Blame Clinton if you want, but get the facts straight and only blame him for what he really screwed up.

While officially declaring his candidacy for President, Ronald Reagan proposes a “North American Agreement” which will produce “a North American continent in which the goods and people of the three countries will cross boundaries more freely.”

***
President Ronald Reagan proposes a North American common market. January 1981

***
December 10, 1985

President Reagan officially informs Congress about his intention to negotiate a free trade agreement with Canada under the authority of trade promotion. Referred to as fast track, trade promotion authority is an accelerated legislative procedure which obliges the House of Representatives and the Senate to decide within 90 days whether or not to establish a trade trade unit. No amendments are permitted.

***
January 2, 1988

Prime Minister Mulroney and President Reagan sign the FTA.

***
November 6, 1987

Signing of a framework agreement between the US and Mexico.

***
June 10, 1990

Presidents Bush and Salinas announce that they will begin discussions aimed at liberalizing trade between their countries.

**
August 21, 1990

President Salinas officially proposes to the US president the negotiation of a free trade agreement between Mexico and the US.

***
December 17, 1992

Official signing of NAFTA by Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, US president George Bush, and Mexican president Carlos Salinas de Gortari, subject to its final approval by the federal Parliaments of the three countries.

* making the public and decision-makers aware of the challenges of economic and political integration between the three NAFTA countries;
* identifying new ideas and strategies to reinforce the North American region;
* establishing a new tradition of North American multi-disciplinary meetings and alternating in the three countries;
* favouring the creation of North American networks to set the basis for a trilateral dialogue;
* identifying elements of a North American agenda to put forward integration beyond the reduction of tariffs;
* putting on the political agenda the idea of creating a North American Investment Fund that would stimulate Mexican economic growth and gaining the support of public opinion and decision-makers regarding the advantages of such a fund.

And regardless of the details, how is it biased to point out that 2 Republican administrations worked on NAFTA before Clinton even took office. How is it biased to point out that NAFTA was in place before Clinton took office. How is it biased to use the facts to contradict a statement implying that Clinton is solely responsible for NAFTA.

That is what my post was about.....not to debate the virtues, or lack there of, of NAFTA.

ANyway you spin it, NAFTA is still the brainchild of a Republican Presidential Candidate (Ronald Reagan), was pursued by his administration. And then the torch was carried on by the next Republican administration (Bush sr.).

Why is it such a problem? Is canadian garbage some how worse then ours?

Michigan garbage company's are making money to take the garbage.

Dumps are turning gases that come out of them into energy sources. The only problem with this is that it takes big investments by the garbage company's, so if they don't have a very large dump it is not worth the investment.

So how does Michigan win by forcing canadians into investing into dumps?

Why is it such a problem? Is canadian garbage some how worse then ours?

You do realize that we are surrounded by the nations largest fresh water supply on 3 sides don't you? Have you seen the size of Canada? There is plenty of desolate area in Canada for them to put their own trash.
Back to the fresh water issue... Yeah, lets keep putting more trash in the mitten so it can leach into the ground water & lakes.

You do realize that we are surrounded by the nations largest fresh water supply on 3 sides don't you? Have you seen the size of Canada? There is plenty of desolate area in Canada for them to put their own trash.
Back to the fresh water issue... Yeah, lets keep putting more trash in the mitten so it can leach into the ground water & lakes.

Maybe you should do a little research on modern dumps. They are a big investment for those reasons. They don't just dig a hole and throw garbage in it anymore.

I know this, one of the guys who used to be in my club was/is an engineer for some of the new dump sites in the US. I'm sure they never leak...

I work right next to one, actually the one right across from CC's building. They just keep building it higher & higher. I'm sure it never has run-off.
But... It does supply gas for the GM Lake Orion Plant.

I realize they have got better, but we are surrounded fresh water & they have plentiful open unused desolate area.

I know this, one of the guys who used to be in my club was/is an engineer for some of the new dump sites in the US. I'm sure they never leak...

I work right next to one, actually the one right across from CC's building. They just keep building it higher & higher. I'm sure it never has run-off.
But... It does supply gas for the GM Lake Orion Plant.

I realize they have got better, but we are surrounded fresh water & they have plentiful open unused desolate area.

Sure there is risk just like there are risk with drilling for oil, and most things that keep are economy running. But they are not trying to stop dumps from being in Michigan, stopping canadian garbage does not stop that risk.

Being that you are such an expert, than you already know that the run off is what they use to make the fuel.

I see so you are just saying not in my backyard. Debbie Stabbenow has taken a no big deal thing and Blown it out of proportion for political gain. That is all it is but if you really want to believe that if you vote for her that you are saving the planet I won't burst your bubble.

Runoff is not what they make the fuel out of...
It's the gas formed as the garbage breaks down that they make fuel from.
Please tell me where I said I was an expert since you seem to be.

Where did I say "no garbage dumps"?

My NIMBY is importing another countries garbage when they have plenty of places to put it. Why should we increase the volume? Michigan creates plenty of garbage on it's own. Does it really mean less jobs if we stop taking Canadian trash? Lets create/replace jobs by trucking our trash to Canada then.
Surely they must want it. We can then have more jobs for truck drivers & they can employ people at the dumps.

That would make it so they can turn all of our dumps into ski slopes, golf courses & subdivisions sooner. God knows they won't turn it into an orv park.